How to Make a Nontraditional Sock Monkey

Make a nontraditional sock monkey out of striped socks.

In 1920, sock monkeys first came on the market thanks to The Nelson Knitting Mills, the first company in the world to manufacture socks. Super Sock Money states mothers then began making monkeys and other stuffed animals out of these socks in the early 1900s. The Nelson Knitting Mills then began including instructions to make sock monkeys with every pair of socks. Traditional sock moneys are mostly brown in color with a white muzzle and red mouth. However, you can make a nontraditional sock monkey by using any kind of sock and by modifying its facial features.

Things You'll Need

• 1 pair of socks
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Sewing needle
• Thread that matches the socks
• Polyester fiber for stuffing
• Chopstick
• Sewing pins
• Black embroidery thread
• Fabric marker
• 2 buttons

Instructions

Sock Monkey Body

1. Turn both socks inside out.

2. Form the legs. Place one of the socks in a way that makes the heel of the sock lie flat on the surface on which you are working. Sew two seams on this sock that starts at the opening of the sock. The first seam should be slightly off-center and runs from the opening of the sock up to just under the heel of the sock. Sew the second seam close to the first one, in the same manner. Leave enough room to cut the fabric in between the seams.

3. Cut the fabric in between the two seams, up to where the seams end.

4. Sew the openings of the sock you just sewed closed to form the sock monkey's feet. Do not sew the opening between the top of the seams you just sewed.

5. Stuff the sock monkey's body and legs. Turn the sock you just sewed right side out through the hole you left at the top of the two seams. Stuff the body and legs of the sock monkey with polyester fiber. Use a chopstick to help you stuff the legs.

6. Sew the opening between the seams that form the sock monkey's legs.

Sock Monkey Arms

1. Get the other sock and lay it flat as sock would normally lie. Cut the sock horizontally just above the heel of the sock. You will end up with a tube of fabric and the form of a sock that does not have a cuff.

2. Cut the tube of fabric in half to form the sock monkey's arms.

3. Make two seams in the middle of the tube of fabric, as you did for the sock monkey's legs. However, this seam should run from end of the tube to the other. Cut the tube in half, in between the two seams you sewed.

4. Turn the fabric right side out and stuff the arms with polyester fiber.

Sock Monkey Tail

1. Get the remaining piece of sock you have and sew a seam through the middle of the sock.

2. Cut the sock along the seam you just sewed (on the side that faces the heel of the sock). You will end up with a long tube and the bottom part of the sock.

3. Turn the fabric right side out and stuff the tube with polyester fill.

Sock Monkey Head, Muzzle and Mouth

1. Cut out the heel on the remaining piece of sock and pin it to the top third of the sock monkey's body, where the head is located.

2. Sew the heel to the body, but leave a small opening at one of the ends of the muzzle. Remove the pins.

3. Stuff the muzzle with polyester fill and stitch it closed.

4. Use a length of embroidery thread to form the sock monkey's head by wrapping it tightly around the body, just under the muzzle.

Sock Monkey Ears

1. Get the remaining piece of sock left after cutting out the heel and pin it closed along the top and side openings.

2. Use a fabric marker to draw two arches.

3. Sew along the lines you drew to form the arches, but leave a small opening at the bottom of each arch.

4. Cut out the arches, just above the seam and turn the fabric right side out.

5. Stuff the ears and sew the openings closed.

Attach the Sock Monkey's Body Parts

1. Pin and sew the sock monkey's ears on either side of its head. Remove the pins.

2. Pin and sew the sock monkey's arms on either side of its body, just below the head. Remove the pins.

3. Pin and sew the tail to the backside of the sock monkey, where the heel of the sock is. Remove the pins.

4. Sew the buttons on the sock monkey's head, just above its muzzle.

5. Use the embroidery thread to sew the shape of two nostrils on the muzzle.

References

• Super Sock Monkey: Sock Monkey History
• Lenn Taylor: Instructions for Making the Red-Heel Sock Monkey Toy
• Craftbits: Sock Monkey
• Lil Sugar: Funky Sock Monkeys